Objective To study the effects of prenatal exposure to low level lead on the physical and neuro-behavioral development of mice and the interaction between lead and zinc. Methods Kunming pregnant mice were provided with drinking water containing lead, zinc and lead-zinc jointly and respectively. The body weight of maternal mice, offspring's survival rate and body weight were observed. Neuro-behavioral development of offspring was assessed by observation of offspring's behavior performance. The levels of dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and malonaldehyde (MDA) in offspring's brains were measured. Results At the doses of lead and zinc which did not effect the increase of maternal body weight during pregnancy, the lead exposure group showed low survival rate, growth retardation and delay of physiological development and neonatal reflexes in the offspring, the levels of DA and MDA in offspring's brains increased compared with the control group. Offspring's low survival rate and growth retardation couldn't be antagonized by zinc, but equal mole as lead of zinc could inhibit the harmful effects on neuro-reflex development. Zinc could also inhibit the increase of DA and MDA levels in offspring's brains induced by lead . However joint exposure to lead and half dosage as much as lead of zinc could deteriorate the effects on delay of physical, neuro-behavioral development and accelerate the DA and 5-HT decompose compared with that in the lead exposure group. Conclusion The harmful effects on offspring's growth and neuro-behavioral development could be induced by prenatal exposure to low level of lead. The types of joint-effect of lead and zinc were different according to the concentration of zinc, which indicated that the zinc-lead interaction was very complicated and it should be very prudent to antagonize lead toxicity using zinc.

Objective To investigate effect of sorafenib on serum hepatoma marker in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods 101 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma were selected, and divided into two groups.50 cases in control group were treated with routine clinical treatment, and 51 cases in experimental group were treated with sorafenib on the basis of control group.The survival time, adverse reactions, VEGF, CTGF, HIF-1 and OPN levels were compared after the treatment.Results The survival time of experimental group was higher than control group (P<0.05).Compared with control group, the serum levels of VEGF、CTGF,HIF-1, OPN,AFP, CEA, and CA199 in experiment group were lower (P<0.05,P <0.01).There were no significant differences of total adverse reactions between experimental group and control group. Conclusion Sorafenib can effectively prolong survival time of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, reduce serum VEGF, CTGF, HIF-1 alpha and OPN levels.

Objective The purpose of this study was to prepare RGD4C modified ferritin nanocages (RGD4C-FRT) for targeted drug delivery to rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). Methods RGD4C modified human H-chain ferritin was expressed and purified. Doxorubicin (Dox) was encapsulated into the cavity of RGD4C-FRT through ion channels, which resulted in RGD4C-FRT-Dox. The target of RGD4C-FRT-Dox to HSC-T6 was detected using fluorescence microscopy. Results Transmission electron microscopy showed that RGD4C-FRT was hollow spherical-structured with uniform size and good dispersion. The average particle diameters of RGD4C-FRT and RGD4C-FRT-Dox were 12.57 nm and 20.13 nm , respectively. The drug encapsulation efficiency and loading percentage of RGD4C-FRT-Dox were 77.32% and 15.88% respectively. RGD4C-FRT-Dox was significantly uptaken by HSC-T6, and the uptake could be blocked by the empty carrier RGD4C-FRT. Conclusion RGD4C-FRT-Dox can specifically target HSC-T6. Further animal experiments are needed to inspect its therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Zhuhong ointment on accumulation in the body of mercury and the pathological morphology changes of kidney, via the measurement of related indicators of the skin-impaired model rat.

METHODEighty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into the impairment control group, and high-, middle-, low-dose Zhuhong ointment groups. Each group was treated by corresponding methods for 4 weeks, and recovering for 4 weeks. Urinary potein (PRO), pH, Beta N-acetyl aminoglycosidase enzymes (NAG) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) contents in urine were taken as monitoring indexes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) in blood and the levels of mercury in urine, blood and kidney were tested, and the pathological morphology changes of kidney were observed.

RESULTAfter treatment for 4 weeks, compared with impairment control group, the levels of mercury in urine, blood and kidney in every dose group increased significantly (P < 0.01). And the relation exists between toxicity and dose on Zhuhong ointment. After recovery for 4 weeks, the levels of mercury in urine and blood in every dose group restore normal, while the level of mercury in kidney in high- dose group still increased (P < 0.01). The level of NAG increased only in high-dose group. There was no significant difference in NAG contents between Zhuhong ointment groups and the impairment control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONExcess using Zhuhong ointment repeatedly may lead to accumulation of mercury and pathological morphology changes of kidney. So the levels of mercury in the body and related indicators of renal functions should be tested in clinical when long-term using Zhuhong ointment.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; drug effects ; urine ; Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Female ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mercury ; blood ; metabolism ; urine ; Ointments ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; drug effects ; urine ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries ; Time Factors ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of repeated administration of Zhuhong ointment on renal antioxidant capability of ulcerous skin in rats, in order to further discuss the mechanism of mercury contained in Zhuhong ointment on the antioxidant capability of kidney in skin ulcer rats.

METHODEighty SD rats were randomly divided into eight groups: Zhuhong ointment A, B, C, D, E (1.219, 0.609, 0.305, 0.152, 0.76 g x kg(-1)) groups, the vaseline group, the ulcer model group and the impairment control group. The levels of NAG and RBP of toxicity for early kidney tubular injury and T-AOC, SOD, GSH-PX and GSH in kidney were determined after consecutive administration for 14 days.

RESULTCompared with ulcer model group, the levels of RBP in groups A, B, C and D increased, while the levels of NAG increased only in the group A. The level of T-AOC increased in groups A, B and C. The level of T-SOD increased in the group E, while it dropped down greatly in the group A. The level of GSH-PX increased in groups A, B and C. The content of GSH increased in every dose groups.

CONCLUSIONAntioxidant capacity in rats can be increased in a reasonable dose of Zhuhong ointment, but some antioxidant activity can be notably inhibited by with the increase of dose.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; drug effects ; urine ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; analysis ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Glutathione ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; injuries ; metabolism ; Male ; Mercury ; metabolism ; Ointments ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; drug effects ; urine ; Skin Ulcer ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms ; Staphylococcal Skin Infections ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of Badu Shengji San (BDSJS) on rats with different injured skins.

METHODThe injured and ulcerous skin rat model was established to observe the renal injury induced by BDSJS, a mercury-containing external preparation of Chinese medicine, with urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and retinol binding protein (RBP) as indicators of renal toxicity.

RESULTCompared to injured skin rats with the same dose, both of high and low-dose ulcerous skin groups showed obvious increase in urinary RBP and kidney coefficients, significant pathomorphological changes in renal tubules and notable epithelial cytopathic effects. In terms of NAG, the high-dose ulcerous skin group saw no significant increase, but the low-dose group recorded sharp rise.

CONCLUSIONThe renal toxicity induced by BDSJS in ulcerous skin rats was more toxic than that in injured skin ones.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mercury ; toxicity ; urine ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinol-Binding Proteins ; urine ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries ; Skin Ulcer ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Staphylococcal Skin Infections ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the mercury accumulation in injured skin rats induced by Badu Shengji San (BDSJS), a traditional Chinese medicine preparation for external use.

METHODInjured skin rats were treated with BDSJS for consecutively 4 weeks. During the 4 weeks and the following 4 weeks after the drug withdrawal, samples were collected for determining mercury contents in blood, urine and kidney, with urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) as indicators of renal toxicity and serum biochemical indicators of hepatic and renal functions. Additionally, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and kidney and renal pathological changes were also observed.

RESULTCompared to injured skin rats, mercury contents of blood, urine and kidney were increased significantly in low, middle and high-dose BDSJS groups administered for consecutive 4 weeks. The levels of mercury showed decreases in urine (89%, 78%, 93%) and kidney (55%, 51%, 57%), and blood mercury concentration recovered to the normal range in low, middle and high-dose BDSJS groups after the drug withdrawal for 4 weeks. Kidney coefficient and beta2-MG were remarkably increased and renal tubular epithelial cell swelling could be found in the high-dose group, and kidney coefficient, beta2-MG and renal morphology basically recovered to the normal levels after the drug withdrawal for 4 weeks.

CONCLUSIONThe administration of BDSJS for consecutively 4 weeks can cause mercury accumulation in blood and mainly in kidney. Once the accumulated mercury concentration of kidney reaches a certain level, renal tubular epithelial cells would be injured. 1.1 mg x cm(-2) of BDSJS is proved to be safe and 2.2 mg x cm(-2) can cause mild but reversible injury in the function of kidney which can be recovered after drug withdrawal for 4 weeks.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mercury ; blood ; metabolism ; toxicity ; urine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; drug effects ; injuries ; Time Factors ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine

OBJECTIVETo observe clinical therapeutic effect of moxibustion on abnormal blood lipids.

METHODSThe patients who did not take the medicine for regulating blood lipids and had still abnormal blood lipids after diet therapy for 3 months, were divided into 4 groups according to different types of abnormal blood lipids. Forty cases selected in each group were again divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group were treated with moxibustion at Shousanli (LI 10), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenque (CV 3) on the basis of diet therapy, and the control group only with the diet therapy. Their therapeutic effects were observed and compared after treatment of 90 days.

RESULTSThere were significant differences between the treatment group and the control group in various groups of different types of abnormal blood lipids (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMoxibustion at Shousanli (LI 10), Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenque (CV 3) has a better therapeutic effect on abnormal blood lipids.

Acupuncture Points ; Biomedical Research ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of mouse melanoma cell line B16F10-derived conditioned medium on the apoptosis of B16F10 cells.

METHODSB16F10 cells were cultured in high-glucose DMEM in the presence of 10% fetal bovine serum, and upon cell confluence, the growth medium was replaced with serum-free high-glucose DMEM. After 8 h, the medium was collected and infiltrated to serve as the conditioned medium. B16F10 cells cultured in normal growth medium or the conditioned medium were exposed to 10 mmol/L sodium L-ascorbate, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed. The ingredients in the conditioned medium with relative molecular mass less or more than 5 000 were extracted to assess their effect on sodium L-ascorbate-induced cell apoptosis.

RESULTSThe conditioned medium for B16F10 cells significantly inhibited cell apoptosis induced by sodium L-ascorbate, and the effective ingredients in the medium showed a relative molecular mass below 5,000.

CONCLUSIONMouse melanoma cell line B16F10-derived conditioned medium can suppress sodium L-ascorbate- induced apoptosis of B16F10 cells, and the ingredients with relative molecular mass less than 5 000 are responsible for this effect.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Ascorbic Acid ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Melanoma, Experimental ; pathology ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of lentivirus-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) of nestin on the metastatic potential of human melanoma cell line UACC903.

METHODSA lentiviral vector for RNAi targeting the coding region of human nestin mRNA (nestin-RNAi-LV) and another control vector containing a nonsense sequence were constructed. The vectors were transfected into UACC903 cells, and nestin expression in the cells was detected by RT-PCR, immunofluorence assay and Western blotting. The invasive ability and migration of the transfected UACC903 cells was evaluated using Transwell and scrape assay, respectively. Fluorescence assay was used to examine the expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and β-catenin in the cells.

RESULTSThe lentiviral vector nestin-RNAi-LV was constructed successfully. Compared with the control vector, nestin-RNAi-LV resulted in obviously reduced expression of nestin mRNA and protein, lowered migration ability of UACC903 cells, and reduced cell adhesion and invasiveness (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLentivirus-mediated nestin RNAi can specifically inhibit nestin expression to cause decreased cell migration and invasiveness of human melanoma cell line UACC903.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Intermediate Filament Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Melanoma ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nestin ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics